The passenger, an Indian youth employed in Japan and holding an MTech degree from IIT Hyderabad, was allegedly trapped by his roommate who claimed that it was merely a parcel for a friend in India.

He was intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) on April 26 after arriving via Ho Chi Minh City on VietJet Flight VJ 1805. Suspicious baggage scans led officials to recover premium collectible pens concealed inside his luggage.

During the investigation, officials found that the passenger had been living in Japan for several years and was employed at a reputed company at a senior position. Examination of chat records and questioning revealed that the pens had allegedly been handed over by his roommate, Dhruv Sud, to be delivered to another friend in India. Customs officials believe the passenger may not have been fully aware of the actual value of the goods or the legal implications involved.

Additional Commiss-ioner of Customs Ramkumar Bishnoi, himself a pen enthusiast, immediately recognised the items as high value collectibles, including brands such as Sailor and Montblanc. He ordered the seizure and directed a detailed interrogation.